A Galactic Holiday by Stacy Gail Sasha Summers Anna Hackett

Author:Stacy Gail, Sasha Summers, Anna Hackett
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-08-30T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Three: Cryptids

“What are you talking about?” Something else she’d never heard of. “What’s a cryptid?”

“The reason we need those shields fixed, hon.” Rex shrugged. “They don’t hear the shield pulse, they come looking for Galilean settler snacks. They hear the shield, they stay away.”

Riley turned to look at Leo. “You didn’t think I might want to know we could get eaten while we were trekking across the ice yesterday?”

Leo shrugged. “I didn’t think we were going to make it period. I didn’t see the point in worrying you over them.”

“I’ve been hauling ice from Galileo, Jynx, Farley and Callisto. I’ve never heard of cryptids, not once.” But she was beginning to realize she had a lot to learn.

“Galileo’s the only place lucky enough to have them,” Iggy explained.

“Surprisingly, no one’s wanted to ship some of the suckers off moon.” Rex smiled. “Not worth the effort to try, I guess. Big, white, angry and full of teeth—if their teeth don’t get you, their tail might...”

Galileo was a nightmare. Why the hell would anyone choose to live here?

She crossed her arms over her chest. She didn’t like feeling this...vulnerable, this alone. She peeked at Leo...

She stopped short.

Was she looking at him for reassurance?

She dropped her arms, shaking them and standing straight and tall. She didn’t need reassuring. This was no big deal. Nothing she couldn’t handle.

“You were safe tugging, Riley.” Leo spoke softly. “You mine and cut ice over the pack, never over land. Cryptids don’t swim and never venture out onto the ice. They hunt on land...”

“Why do you think Iggy’s been hooking things up wrong? We used to have a mechanic, could wire anything. But they got to him before we...” Rex’s less-than-comforting explanation was cut short when Iggy punched him in the shoulder.

“Just get her some cold gear. I’ll get the rifles.” Iggy looked at Riley apologetically. “If your offer still stands, that is.”

“How long have they been down?” She wasn’t so sure she wanted to touch their shields now.

“About an hour ago,” Rex answered as he left the kitchen.

“I don’t think this is a good idea.” Leo was looking at her.

Iggy nodded. “Probably not. They’ll be coming quick, if they’re not looking for a way in already.” Iggy’s face was grim. “We’ll set off some charges to chase them off for now.”

“They’ll try to get in?” She blinked. Images of the children, smiling Lylie and the others, sprang up. They’d be terrified. They’d be in danger. She took a deep breath. “Mines are fine for short term, but will they come back? If the shield’s not up and vibrating, I mean?” She looked at Leo, noting the angry line of his jaw.

“Eventually.” Iggy nodded.

Riley continued. “You’d still have to post some sort of watch and Rex just said visibility was getting worse...” She made up her mind. “Let’s do this and get it over with it.”

She started toward the kitchen door, but Leo grabbed her arm.

Iggy’s eyebrows ascended to his forehead before he walked quickly from the kitchen.

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